Improved vacuum-still



,y In' the drawing-L- N y tucasa-la l f @with 'HENsYcnoeAN.- or FL-Arsnsn, Nnw'YoRK.

IMPROVED 'VACUUM-STILL.

The Schedule referred to ln'these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom-it may concern:

f Be it known that I, HENRY GROGAN, of Flatbush, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and improved Vacuum-Still; and Ido 'V i hereby declare the following 4to be a full, clear, and

exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled inthe art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of this invention, the line :t x,.lig. 2, indicating the plane of sectiom c Figure 2 is a similar' section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line y y in fig. 1.-

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the arrangement of a conical steam-jacket in the interior of the still, and over the mouth of thue vapor-discharge pipe or pipes, in such a manner that the vapors have to travel upward under the jacket before .they are able to enter the discharge-pipe or pipes, and thereby the discharge of `liquid not perfectly vaporized is avoided further, in the arrangement of a hot-water condenser, inA combination with the vapor-discharge pipes, the still, and

residuum-reservoir, in such a manner that by said condenser a more or less perfect vacuum` is created,.

whereby'the discharge of the vapors from the still and fromthe vresiduunl-reservoir is materiallyfacilitated. l

The letter A represents a still, which may be eggshaped, or in any other suitable form or shape, and which is intended to b e heated by a steam-coil, indi-V cated in red outlines in the drawing.

Through the top'l of this still passes the supply-pipe B, which terminates at a short distance below the top in a rose or sprinkler, C, so that theliquid admitted through said pipe is caused `to pass into` the still in the form of a spray.

Asuitable valve or stop-cock, a, connected to the pipe B, serves to regulate the supply of liquid to the still.

0n reaching the still the liquid is theated by theaction ofthe steam-coil, and it is vaporized before it reaches the bottom partof the still.

The vaporization 'is still ,further facilitated by a conical steam-jacket, D, which is secured in the lower part offthe still, as shown in the' drawing, so that a hollow conical space, c, `is formed between itsfouter' surface and the inner surface of the still.

rEhis'jacket is heated by steam admitted through a pipe, d, and allowed to exhaust through a pipe, e..

vThe vapors formed in the still pass otftbrough the discharge-pipe or pipes E, Awhich emanate from points of the still below its top, unlike the ordinary goosenecks, which invariably emanate from the highest part of the still.-

In practice I introduce the discharge-pipes at points "under the jacket D, so that the vapors formed in the still have to pass up into the conical space c before they are enabled to reach-the mouths of the dischargei pipes. p e

The discharge of the vapors from the still is facilitated by the action ofl a condenser, F, which is composed of a series of pipes, f,.enclosed in a drum, 5,1 and connecting with a receiving-chamber, g, and with a discharge-chamber, h, the receiving-chamber being connected to the discharge-pipes E of the still, while the discharge-chamber 7lA connects, by a suitable pipe, with'a. second condenser or with a worm.

The drum t' is filled with water, which is kept at the required temperaturev by steam admitted through the pipe j, and discharging through vthe pipe 7c, said temperature being so regulated that the least volatile parts of Ythe vapors are condensed in the first condenser, and the less volatile parts in subsequent conl f denser-s, so that the various grades of the liquid can be separated without diiiiculty, and before the vapors pass out of my apparatus.

By the actionV of the condenser F, a partial vacuum is created, which materially facilitates the discharge of the vapors from the still.

The temperature of the still is observed: by a pyrometer, G, introduced through the top, and a pressure-gauge, H, and vacuum-gauge I, also applied to the top of the still, serve to observe the pressure or thefstate of the vacuum in the still, and enable the operator to regulate his operations accordingly.

In using my still for distilling petroleum or other liquids of a similar nature, I connect it, by means of va foot-pipe, K, with a residuum-tank, L.

From this residuum-tank ext-end two pipes, ZI, which communicate with' the discharge-pipes E of the still,I or with the condenser F, so that a partial 1vacuum is formed in said tank; and thereby the vapors carried down into the tank, together with the residnum, are disengaged and caused to pass off with the vapors discharging from tho still.

To the foot-pipe K is applied astop-valve, an,

lwhich is closed until a certain quantity of tar or nonvaporized` liquid has accumulated in the bot-tom part ofl the still. l

The quantity of tar thus accumulated is observed 'by meansof a transparent pipe or fluid-gauge, n,

which connects with the still at top and bottom, and if the tar or non-vanorized liquid has accumulated to a certain depth, the stop-valve m is opened, and ,saidv tar is deposited in the residuum-tank L, 'whence it is discharged, from time to time, or as may be desired. When my still is used for. ,distilling whiskey, or

other similar liquids, theresilllmm-tmik is not required, :wd chez stop-mire 'wenn remain closed during the whole operation.

Wham I claim as new, mld desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The conical stumm-ineket D, iu the interior of the still, and over the mouth of' the dsclmrgwpipe, sul)- stzlntizilly :is Set forth.

2. The arrangement :ind combination of the still A, jacket D, discharge-pipe E, and condenser G, sub-4 stwntizilly as set; forth.

3. 'lll arrangement and combination 0f' the still A, jacket D, discharge-pipe E,resrluulwtmxk L, pipes Z I, and condenser G, all :is substantially shown and described.

This specification signed by me, This 6th day of April, 1865).

. .HENRY GROGAY.

YVibn'Gsses:

W. HAUFF, 0. WAHLERS. 

